I had a spare of the moment idea to sell my two skis and purchase a speedster. I found one a few houses down from me which is a 97 Challenger 1800. I like the Challengers MUCH better, I like the idea of a bigger machine and more people on board. The boat however is a fairly large project.
Good: Hull is in solid shape minus fading. Nothing a good buff and polish wont fix. Decals are in good shape, Steering wheel, controls, and gauges are all there and function able.
Bad: Seats are all in bad shape. Not only torn, also missing chunks of foam. I was told that it was purchased as a project. he got both engines running. took it to the river, one engine wasnt running perfect and the other was worse. He then got a quote of $3,000.00 to rebuild one engine and do carburetor work on the other. Therefor, there is a box inside the boat with the carbs(still assembled) from one engine.
Also, When I opened the small center storage door in the floor, I noticed some water in the bottem of the boat. It had just rained heavily 20 minutes before and the rear plugs in the hull have been left opened.
Now, He wants $1,000.00. I offered $250.00 but I am thinking of counter offering to $500.00 and slowing going to $1,000.00
I can rebuild carbs, I can disassemble and reassemble engines for rebuild, I can reupholster seats, I can buff and polish. I have changed drive shaft bearings, pump oils, impellers, wear rings... Pretty much all typical old seadoo jetski repairs. There is no doubt in my mind I can have the boat finished in a few months.
I am looking for experienced opinions. What would a barely covered(from weather) solid hull boat, needing new seats and having two engines in a box of pieces be worth to you? I obviously would want the project to end costing less money then a used one in good shape. Does it seem likely? Have you found that these boats tend to fall apart from sitting a long time such as gauges breaking, wiring corrosions, throttle/choke cables breaking?
Good: Hull is in solid shape minus fading. Nothing a good buff and polish wont fix. Decals are in good shape, Steering wheel, controls, and gauges are all there and function able.
Bad: Seats are all in bad shape. Not only torn, also missing chunks of foam. I was told that it was purchased as a project. he got both engines running. took it to the river, one engine wasnt running perfect and the other was worse. He then got a quote of $3,000.00 to rebuild one engine and do carburetor work on the other. Therefor, there is a box inside the boat with the carbs(still assembled) from one engine.
Also, When I opened the small center storage door in the floor, I noticed some water in the bottem of the boat. It had just rained heavily 20 minutes before and the rear plugs in the hull have been left opened.
Now, He wants $1,000.00. I offered $250.00 but I am thinking of counter offering to $500.00 and slowing going to $1,000.00
I can rebuild carbs, I can disassemble and reassemble engines for rebuild, I can reupholster seats, I can buff and polish. I have changed drive shaft bearings, pump oils, impellers, wear rings... Pretty much all typical old seadoo jetski repairs. There is no doubt in my mind I can have the boat finished in a few months.
I am looking for experienced opinions. What would a barely covered(from weather) solid hull boat, needing new seats and having two engines in a box of pieces be worth to you? I obviously would want the project to end costing less money then a used one in good shape. Does it seem likely? Have you found that these boats tend to fall apart from sitting a long time such as gauges breaking, wiring corrosions, throttle/choke cables breaking?
